Damian Wanstall: Ex-deputy principal at Kellyville High School sentencing for attempt to procure child

A forensic psychiatrist has described how an “immature” ex-deputy principal at a Sydney high school attempted to procure a 14-year-old girl for sex to make his ex jealous.

Damian Wanstall at Sydney West Trial Courts. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

A former deputy principal at a northwest Sydney high school attempted to procure a teenage girl for sex to make his ex jealous, a forensic psychiatrist has told a court.

Damian Wanstall’s career as the deputy principal at Kellyville High School came to an inauspicious end when he was charged with attempting to procure a child for sex on December 8, 2020.

A court has heard Wanstall had posted an online ad seeking encounters with “legal” teens - before a sex crimes detective engaged with him posing as a 14-year-old girl.

After exchanging texts - many during school hours when Wanstall was at work - in which the experienced educator proposed “mutual oral sex”, they made arrangements to meet.

Damian Wanstall at a previous appearance at Parramatta Court in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

The court heard Wanstall also suggested the girl avoid wearing her school uniform “so it looks less suss” and “bring a spare pair of knickers”.

When Wanstall arrived at the agreed meeting place in Westmead with cash in his pocket, detectives swooped.

Wanstall pleaded guilty to the offence, and forensic psychiatrist Dr Andrew Ellis gave evidence about the disgraced ex-teacher at sentence proceedings before Judge Andrew Colefax at Parramatta District Court.

The psychiatrist told the court he had diagnosed Wanstall with alcohol use disorder based on his “hazardous” alcohol consumption — up to seven units at least two days a week — but that he did not currently meet the criteria for a paedophilic or paraphilic sexual disorder.

Dr Ellis said a protracted sexual interest in teens could nevertheless not be entirely ruled out, but Wanstall had provided other motives for his criminal behaviour.

“He’s someone with an immature personality who, when he was drinking heavily, made significantly impulsive and ill-considered decisions about his sexual behaviour,” Dr Ellis told the court.

“That is more likely than him having a pervasive and persistent interest in young people having a paedophilic disorder and acting on it - but I would say in both reports that you could not exclude that possibility.”

The court heard Wanstall was attempting to make his former partner jealous after they broke up.

“He is a school teacher, well aware of the laws around interacting with young people and if he’s motivated to get back with his partner this is possibly the worst way to go about it,” Dr Ellis said.

“(His drinking) may make his decision making more impulsive and less likely to consider consequences but it doesn’t deprive him of the ability to know right from wrong and the difference between legal and illegal conduct.”

The psychiatrist said Wanstall’s significant alcohol use would have affected his conduct whether he was intoxicated or not - but accepted Wanstall sent many of the texts when he was sober, and was seeking at least on that specific occasion to engage a 14-year-old girl for sex.

The matter has been adjourned to Tuesday for Judgment to be handed down.